Impound Yard Vandals Steal Toys For Needy

The Payson Police Department is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people who broke into their impound yard, vandalized vehicles and stole and destroyed a shed full of toys designated for families in need at Christmas time.

"The suspects broke into our police storage facility, near the airport, and broke every window on every vehicle in the yard," Payson Police Det. Matt Van Camp said. "Estimated damage is over $10,000."

Kelly Crowley/Roundup

Police believe juveniles broke into their impound yard, vandalized
cars and stole Christmas toys designated for families in need.
Payson Police Det. Matt Van Camp said every window in all 20
vehicles in the yard was broken. The damage estimate is more than
$10,000.

Van Camp said there are approximately 20 vehicles in the yard and this is the third time this year, the yard has been broken into.

"They also broke into our storage building and stole Christmas for Kids toys that were left over from last year's donations to give to kids this year," Van Camp said. "They damaged several toys and stole an undetermined number of them."

The Christmas for Kids program provides toys and clothing for families in need during the holidays.

Van Camp said the suspects are, most likely, between the ages of 8 and 17-years-old and may be in possession of new toys.

"We did recover a baseball bat that was used," Van Camp said. "We recovered physical evidence at the scene which is now being processed."

Van Camp said the town will pay for fixing all the damaged cars.

"The town of Payson is responsible for each vehicle in here and for paying to have each vehicle repaired," Van Camp said.

Payson Police Chief Gordon Gartner said they will be putting special wire donated by the military around the yard.

"We were going to wait for the next fiscal year," Gartner said, "but we decided not to wait."

According to Van Camp, those responsible face criminal damage, burglary and theft charges.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Payson Police Department at 928-474-5177.